What Is Apple Universal Control, All You Need to Know

What is Universal Control on Apple?

While iPadOS 15.4 and macOS Monterey 12.3 were in beta, Apple introduced support for **Universal Control**. This feature lets users switch between macOS and iPadOS devices with a single keyboard and mouse setup for a smoother workflow. In short, it enables control of both a Mac and an iPad with each device's mouse and keyboard.

With Universal Control, you can use one cursor and keyboard across any nearby Mac or iPad that's signed in with the same iCloud account. It works between multiple Macs and between a Mac and an iPad within 10 meters (30 feet) of each other.

Note: Universal Control is not available in the following situations:

• Universal Control by Apple is designed for Macs and iPads, so you can't use it to control an iPhone with the same mouse or keyboard.
• You can drag and drop content between devices with Universal Control using a mouse, keyboard, or trackpad, but it doesn't support the Apple Pencil.
• Universal Control doesn't work on Windows, but you can find alternatives to Universal Control for Windows.

Devices with Universal Control support [Mac and iPad]

Universal Control is supported on the following devices and operating systems, provided you have a Mac and up to two additional Macs or iPads. Before you can set up and use Universal Control, make sure your devices are compatible. For Macs, the requirements are macOS Monterey 12.4 or later, including:

- MacBook from 2016 or later - MacBook Pro from 2016 or later - MacBook Air from 2018 or later - Mac mini from 2018 or later - iMac from 2017 or later, or iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2015), iMac Pro - Mac Pro from 2019 or later - Mac Studio

Universal Control must be used with an iPad running iPadOS 15.4 or later, along with one of these compatible devices:

- iPad Pro (all models) - iPad (6th generation) or later - iPad Air (3rd generation) or later - iPad mini (5th generation) or later

How to Use Universal Control on Apple Devices

With Universal Control, you can work seamlessly between your Mac and up to two other nearby Macs or iPads, using the same keyboard, mouse, or trackpad to control each Mac. Each device shows its own screen and apps, and you can move the pointer and type on one device and paste content between devices with a single mouse, keyboard, or trackpad.

Note: To mirror or extend your Mac desktop to your iPad, use Sidecar instead.

Here's a video on how to use Universal Control on a Mac:

• 00:01 How to use Universal Control (BETA)
• 00:45 Setting up Universal Control
• 01:06 Setup, sign in, and controls

You can enable Apple Universal Control by following these steps:

Enable Apple Universal Control

Before you continue, make sure that all devices meet the system requirements for Universal Control and are signed in with the same Apple ID. Then, follow these steps to turn on Universal Control:

Enable Universal Control on your Mac:

Step 1: Click the Apple menu and select System Preferences/Settings.

Click “Displays.”

Step 3. If you're using macOS Ventura or later, click Advanced at the bottom of the Settings page.

Step 4: Select the “Allow your pointer and keyboard to move between nearby Macs and iPads” option and turn it on.

Enable Universal Control on your iPad:

Step 1. Open the Settings app.

Step 2: Tap General, then tap AirPlay & Handoff.

Step 3. On an iPad-only setup, turn on Cursor & Keyboard to support Universal Control.

Connect your Mac and iPad

With Universal Control turned on, you can connect to nearby devices by following these steps:

The first step: Unlock both devices and put them together.

Step 2: Move the pointer to the left or right edge of the screen using your mouse or trackpad.

Step 3: Pass the pointer through all the screens.

If you see a prohibitory symbol when you try to drag, you can't put the item there. Instead of deleting it, you can use the keyboard to copy an object on one device with "Command + C," and then paste it on another with "Command + V." While devices are connected with Universal Control, you can use any connected keyboard, mouse, or trackpad to control any of them.

Disconnect your Mac from your iPad

You can do any of the following to disconnect a specific device from your Mac:

Put the device you want to “divorce” into sleep mode. In Control Center, click Display, then under “Connect Keyboard and Mouse,” select the connected Mac or iPad.

Or press Control-Option-Command-Delete on your keyboard to disconnect all devices.

Automatically reconnect to nearby devices

Move the trackpad or mouse cursor to the edge of your display, toward the other device, to connect to a nearby Mac or iPad. After your first successful connection, you can automatically reconnect to any nearby Mac or iPad.

To enable Auto Reconnect on a Mac, go to "System Preferences," choose "Displays," and then click "Advanced." Check the box next to "Automatically reconnect to any nearby Mac or iPad," and then click "Done."

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How to Fix Universal Control Not Working on Mac/iPad

Enabling Universal Control can sometimes cause issues, especially when connecting devices for the first time. To ensure everything is set up correctly, check the following:

Check the compatibility of devices with Universal Control. Make sure all devices are signed in with the same Apple ID. Keep your Mac and iPad within 30 feet (10 meters) of each other, and make sure Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Handoff are on for both. Verify that your iPad and Mac share a cellular and internet connection, then turn off Share Internet.

Here are some issues you might encounter when using Generic Controls, along with their solutions:

• Drag-and-drop issues: Because the Mac desktop supports multiple file types, whereas the iPad home screen does not, you need to open an app that's compatible with a file type.
• Multitouch-gesture issues: Some multitouch gestures, like Mission Control, aren't available on the iPad, and others work differently.
• Cut-and-paste issues: Apps like Safari still have some catching up to do with this feature.
• Display arrangement: The cursor can exit one display and reappear on another in a location that doesn't match the physical layout of your displays; use the Displays pane of System Preferences on the Mac to rearrange them.

（Image showing: Arrange display）

Universal Control vs. Sidebar

Sidecar is a feature developed by Apple Inc., introduced as part of macOS Catalina and iPadOS 13. It enables users to use their iPad as an external display for their Mac. You can choose to mirror your Mac's screen on the iPad or use it as an additional screen in "Extended Mode."

The difference between Universal Control and Sidecar

The main difference between Sidecar and Universal Control lies in their functionality. Sidecar turns your iPad into an external display for your Mac, mirroring the same content. In contrast, Universal Control enables you to control your iPad using your Mac's trackpad/mouse/keyboard without mirroring the screen, allowing direct interaction with iPadOS while leveraging Mac resources. Here's a simple table outlining the key differences between Universal Control and Sidecar: | Feature | Sidecar | Universal Control | |----------------|----------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------| | Display purpose | Extends the Mac screen to iPad, displaying the same content | Doesn't mirror the Mac screen; switch freely between devices | | Control method | Requires separate touch or Apple Pencil input | Uses Mac's trackpad/mouse/keyboard to control iPad | | Device interaction | Separate experience with independent apps and windows | Seamless switching of apps and files within the same workspace | | App compatibility | Supports extended display for most Mac apps | Shares apps and documents between Mac and iPad | | System requirements | macOS Catalina or later, iPadOS 13 or later | macOS Monterey or later, iPadOS 15 or later | | Multitasking | Supports multiple independent app windows on iPad | Shares windows and text for multitasking between Mac and iPad | This table summarizes the primary features of both, helping you understand their respective capabilities. Depending on your specific needs, you can choose the one that best enhances your productivity.

Use Universal Control or Sidecar

If you use the Apple Pencil a lot, Sidecar is probably your best bet. That's because Sidecar lets you use the powerful Mac apps, like Photoshop, with your Apple Pencil on your iPad. If you want to extend your Mac desktop to your iPad screen and your workflow doesn't involve any iPadOS-specific features, then the answer is straightforward: Use Sidecar.

However, if your workflow involves multiple Macs, or you want to start taking advantage of Apple's innovative apps for the iPad and iPadOS, such as GarageBand and iMovie, you should opt for Universal Control. This lets you use a single keyboard/mouse with all your devices, so you don't have to switch manually.

Conclusions

Apple's Universal Control feature lets you use your Mac's mouse/trackpad and keyboard to control a nearby Mac or iPad with ease. Just turn on Universal Control on both your Mac and iPad, make sure everything is configured correctly, and connect them to control all devices with one mouse/trackpad and keyboard.